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Chanthaburi (จันทบุรี) is the provincial capital of Chanthaburi Province in Eastern Thailand.

Understand

Chantaburi is 245 km from Bangkok and covers an area of 6,338 km2. It is a destination famous for tropical fruits & gems. It is rich with verdant forests with scenic waterfalls. The River, home of ancient communities. Chanthaburi is administratively divided into Muang Chanthaburi, Tha Mai, Khlung, Laem Sing, Pong Nam Ron, Makham, Soi Dao, Na Yai Am, Kang Maeo and Khao Khitchakut sub-district.

Quiet fishing villages & peaceful beaches are the suggested places to people who like to chill out, it is not far from the town center.

Otherwise known as Mueang Chan, is a fertile province with various factors contributing to successful cultivation of fruits, especially durian, rambutan, mangosteen, and other economic crops such as pepper and para rubber tree. The province also serves as a hub of gemstone trading, with diversified tourist attractions to offer ranging from mountains, forests, waterfalls, beaches, places and objects of antiquity to soft adventure and ecotourism activities such as trekking, mountain biking, rafting, etc.

History

Once a prehistoric habitation area, a number of stone tools and artefacts from the Neolithic Age were discovered during surveys at several archaeological sites in Chanthaburi; namely, Amphoe Makham, Amphoe Tha Mai and a hillside plain at Ban Khlong Bon in Amphoe Pong Nam Ron.

Chong was the first Mon-Khmer hunting-gathering community to have settled in the eastern forests in what are now Chanthaburi, Trat and Rayong provinces in ca. the 13th century A.D. The first settlement in Chanthaburi was near Khao Sa Bap. The forest area, especially on the boundary between Chanthaburi and Trat, was abundant in herbs and forest products such as gamboge, lac, wax, cardamom, eaglewood, rattan, cinnamon, etc. Deforestation for cultivation as well as habitation by Thai and Chinese people has shrunken the forest. Hunting and gathering has been made illegal, so the hunter-gatherers were forced to change their lifestyle and become urban labourers or farmers. Most of the ‘Chong’ now live at Ban Khlong Phlu in Amphoe Khao Khitchakut.

A new city was established in 1657 A.D. at Ban Lum on the west bank of the Chanthaburi River. At the fall of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya in 1767 A.D., King Taksin the Great, then Phraya Wachiraprakan, led a troop of some 500 soldiers to break through and head eastward to occupy Chanthaburi. He took 5 months to store foodstuffs and recruit a troop of 5,000 Thai and Chinese soldiers to regain the independence of the kingdom. Monuments and memorials built to commemorate the historic event well reflect the pride of the people of Chanthaburi.

The city was relocated to the highlands at Ban Noen Wong in the reign of King Rama III to prevent a Vietnamese invasion, but due to its far distance from water sources was moved back to Ban Lum in the reign of King Rama V. Chanthaburi used to be occupied by France for 11 years in a Thai – French dispute. Thailand had to surrender its territory on the left bank of the Mekong River to France in return for Chanthaburi, which was later established as a province in 1933 A.D.

Get in

Chantaburi is about 4 hours by bus from Bangkok. The Cambodian border at Ban Pakard is 1-2 hours away by minibus (~100 baht) or songthaew (~40 baht), from where Pailin is just 15km away.

Motorway – Highway No. 7, start from Si Nakharin Road in Bangkok and end in Pattaya, Chon Buri, a distance of 90 Kilometres Then, continue on Highway No. 36 for 50 Kilometres and Highway No. 3 for another 108 Kilometres, a total distance of 248 Kilometres

Buses are also available from Chanthaburi to other provinces including Nakhon Ratchasima, Trat, Rayong, Sa Kaeo, Saraburi, Buri Ram, Prachin Buri, and Tak. For more information, please contact the Chanthaburi Bus Terminal at Tel. 0 3932 2197.

Get around

See

The City Pillar & the Taksin Maharat Shrine, are located at Tha Luang Road in front of the Taksin Military Barracks. Opposite stands an old building (Former town hall) which was erected during the reign of King Rama VI.

Taksin Maharat Memorial, Liap Noen Road (near to park). The equestrian statue is guarded by statues of his four royal guards. The expression on the king's face clearly shows the resoluteness and determination to restore the national independence.
The pond is stocked with a large variety of fish.

Si Chan Road is the commercial centre of the gem business. Even though actual gem-mining in the province is not extensive, Chanthaburi remains a major centre for gem dealings with stones from abroad being bought and sold. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings, it attracts a large crowd of gem dealers and visitors.

Across the Chanthaburi River (from Si Chan Road) and left turn 1 km from the bridge, is around 800m off the main road is Wat Phai Lom. The Ram lll-era Ubosot features wall murals on all four sides portraying the story of Lord Buddha with Chinese floral designs as well as illustrations of foreigners. There is also a ubosot of western architectural influence attesting to Chanthaburi's artistic and cultural contact with the western world.

The Catholic Church, Chanthanimit Road on the river bank is the largest Catholic edifice in Thailand. Built in 1909, it is of Gothic architectural style. The original tall roof was taken down during World War ll to make it less conspicuous as a possible target.

Wat Thong Thua, 4 km from town, Sukhumwit Highway, is the site of an ancient Bot which was built in Khmer-style temple. It has a large collection of ancient Khmer sculptures such as lintels, sandstone door columns carved in various designs & inscription stone. Nearby is the Muang Phaniat archaeological site with laterite base of Khmer religious sanctuary and moats marking the town limit to the south. The ancient town is believed to have been dated from the 12th-16th century(Buddhist Era).

On Chanthaburi-Tha Mai-Khung Wiman RouteWat Phlup at Tambon Bang Kacha, southwest of town, was the site of an old community during the late Ayutthaya period. Special features are two ancient pagodas of different styles and an old Thai wooden pavilion.

The ancient site of Khai Noen Wong, at Tambon Bang Kacha, was established in 1834 during the reign of King Rama lll. The town was moved from Ban Lum to this new location because of its high ground (which more suitable for defensive purposes against the invading Vietnamese). The laterite walls and bricks from the old town were also dismantled and moved to the new site. A severe drought during the reign of King Rama V forced its return to the original site at Ban Lum.

The old town at Khai Noen Wong was square-shaped with extensive laterite walls mounted with large cannons. Each side had its own ramparts and defensive moats. It was regarded as a powerful military camp of the time. The town's principal temple was Wat Yothanimit

National maritime museum, the Underwater Archaeological Office is located within Khai Noen Wong specialising in exhibits on Thailand's merchant marine and items discovered from underwater archaeological explorations from all over the country. There are also exhibits of ancient sailing routes and products. An exhibition chamber deals with the history and culture of Chanthaburi.

Khao Laem Sing Forest Park , Tha Mai-Bang Kachai route, 25 km from Tha Mai, passes through Wat Khao Laem Sing right up to the park HQ on a hill. Alternatively, visitors can charter a boat from Laem Sing beach to Ao Krathing Beach, just 400 metres away, and walk up to the park. Camping is allowed on application.

Khao Laem Sing is a small hill 172 metres above the sea. Located to the east of the mouth of the Chanthaburi River, it has a cape jutting into the sea which looks like a sprawling lion. There is an old fortification called Pom Phairi Phinat built during the reign of King Rama lll.

Hat Ao Yang is a small beach some 2km before the park. Cool and shady, it offers accommodation facilities for visitors.

Hat Khung Wiman, Hat Khung Kraben, Hat Laem Sadet and Hat Chao Lao are all peaceful beaches in Tha Mai district and clustered in an area about 30km from town. At Km. 310 of Highway No. 3 is a right turn into Highway No. 3399 which leads to the area. Or one can proceed from Tha Mai district on the route passing through Wang Tanot dam. There are accommodation facilities for tourists, particularly at Hat Chao Lao where there are several hotels and bungalows to choose from. About one kilometre off shore from Hat Chao Lao are ranges of shallow water coral reefs covering an area of 14 square kilometres. Glass-bottomed boats are available. Over at Ao Khung Kraben are nature trails to study mangrove areas

Do

Rayong-Chantaburi Route

Tham Khao Wang, at Ban Khao Wongkot, Kaeng Hang Maeo district, is part of the Khao Chamao-Khao Wong National Park. About 40 km before Chanthaburi (Highway No 3 at Km. 286:Ban Kong Din) left turn into the park, 11 km or turn into Km 288 (Talat Na Yai Arm).

Khao Wong, limestone hills standing in a circular cluster with cliffs. It containing stalagmites & stalactites. There are passages connecting to some of the chambers. The walking trails outside offer views of varied plantlife. There are no natural lights inside the cave. The best time for cave exploring is between Feb-Apr, otherwise (in other month) they tend to be flooded (raining season).

Chanthaburi-Krathing Wrathing Waterfall Route
The Chamsom Crocodile Farm and Zoo. The facility is surrounded by fruit orchards. To reach it go on Sukhumwit Highway until Km. 324 (Khao Rai Ya intersection) then turn left, around 4 km further. Open daily from 8.00 a.m.-6.00 p.m. There is an Elephant show every Saturday and Sunday at 12.00 noon and 3.00 p.m. Tel: (039) 324247.

Oasis sea world, 48/2 Moo 5 Paknam Laemsing Chanthaburi Thailand 22130 (From Chanthaburi, take taxi/songthaew, about 300 BHT for a group), ☎(039) 499-222 (info@oasisseaworld.net, fax: (039) - 3936 - 3239), [1]. Swim with dolphins. The main website seems unmaintained. You can check http://www.swimwithdolphinsthailand.com/. In july 2011, this attraction was suspended for some renovations from late 2010 and planned to resume later this year. Some tour operators offers one day trip there (from Bangkok/Pattaya) between 1600-6000 BHT180 BHT for park, 400 to swim with dolphins.